Big karate squad packs a powerful punch

T'Meika Knapp, left, Andrew Joyce, Lynda Hudson, Kate Jones, Angus Jones and Cameron Hudson. are off to represent the state at the national championships in Perth.Source: News Limited

ARMED with a mix of youth, talent and experience, Tasmania will send its biggest-ever team off shore to the Australian Karate Federation’s national championships in Perth this weekend.

The team of 37 participants, coaches and referees has only been bettered by the 45-strong team that represented the state at last year’s home nationals in Hobart.

The competitors will compete in kata (patterns) and kumite (sparring) disciplines.

Included in the team is national kumite female senior champion Tamika Knapp and national kumite junior champion Kate Jones.

For Jones, 14, it is a family affair, with her younger brother Angus, 11, in the Tasmanian team and father Mike the state’s head coach.

“Our expectations are good in that we are taking away two people who are already national champions (Knapp and Kate Jones) and several others who took silver medals at last year’s competition and a number of others who won bronze medal plus many others who have great potential,” Mike Jones said.